Press kit
Everything a reviewer, journalist, or podcaster needs to write about RuckMode. Quote us freely. Anything below this line can be used without permission.
The pitch in one sentence
RuckMode is the Apple Watch Ultra field command app for outdoor athletes and ruckers - readiness, trail battery, loaded-ruck pace context, climb budget, route tools, RuckMode field PT, and coach cues for people who want outdoor decisions in an Apple-native experience.
Quick facts
- Company
- Deer Track Design LLC (Illinois)
- Founder
- Joshua Frost
- Based
- Bloomington, IL
- Product
- RuckMode Field - iOS + watchOS app
- Minimum device
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 (watchOS 11+)
- Launch
- Approved by Apple for iOS and watchOS
- Pricing
- Free tier · 7-day trial · $9.99/mo Pro Monthly · $14.99/mo Family Sharing (up to 6) · $79/yr Pro Annual
- Website
- ruckmode.app
- Press contact
- [email protected]
Press release
Launch update
Deer Track Design LLC announced that RuckMode (ruckmode.app) has been approved by Apple for iOS and watchOS, bringing a new Apple Watch Ultra app to outdoor athletes, ruckers, and field-training users who want clearer training and route decisions from the watch they already wear.
RuckMode combines readiness trends, Trail Battery, loaded-ruck pace context, climb budget, GPX routes, waypoints, workout recording, RuckMode field PT, and coach cues in one Apple-native experience for trail runners, hikers, ruckers, riders, skiers, and endurance athletes.
"I loved Apple Watch Ultra hardware and loved Garmin endurance depth, but neither gave me the exact field-command experience I wanted," said founder Joshua Frost. "RuckMode is the bridge: Apple-native, outdoor-first, and built around decisions instead of dashboard sprawl."
Key product differentiators:
- Ridge Ready command - a daily Send / Hold / Recover verdict based on readiness and recent load
- Trail Battery - an outdoor energy readout with distance and climb context
- RuckMode - loaded ruck, Murph prep, and branch-style PT templates with unofficial training boundaries
- Route tools - GPX routes, waypoints, breadcrumbs, and back-to-start workflow
- Coach cues - Kai, Luna, and Jax styles for workout cues, PR call-outs, and debriefs
RuckMode is free to install. Pro Monthly is $9.99/month, Pro Annual $79/year (saves 34% vs monthly), and Family Sharing $14.99/month for up to 6 people. All Pro tiers include a 7-day free trial.
Press, reviewers, podcasters, and qualified creators can request evaluation access at ruckmode.app/demo. The public App Store page is not live yet; use the demo request flow until Apple lookup and the direct App Store page return live public results.
Press inquiries: [email protected]
Founder quotes
"Garmin's moat is 30 years of outdoor firmware. Apple's moat is a platform millions of athletes already wear. RuckMode is my bet that outdoor athletes want the Apple-native decision layer." — Joshua Frost, founder, on the Apple vs. Garmin platform bet
"I bought a Fenix 8 for the 20-day battery. Sold it in three weeks. The UX, the case, the app — I couldn't. So I started building what I wanted to use." — Joshua Frost on why he built RuckMode
"We are not trying to out-Strava Strava. RuckMode is the decision layer before and during the session: readiness, trail battery, climb context, and the next smart move." — Joshua Frost on positioning
Brand assets
All assets are owned by Deer Track Design LLC. Usage in editorial coverage is permitted without additional permission. Do not alter logo colors or proportions.
Boilerplate
RuckMode is an Apple Watch Ultra training and adventure app built by Deer Track Design LLC, an Illinois-based independent software studio. The app combines readiness trends, Trail Battery, loaded-ruck pace context, climb budget, route tools, workout recording, RuckMode field PT, and coach cues in a single Apple-native experience for Ultra owners. RuckMode has been approved by Apple for iOS and watchOS, with subscription pricing at $9.99/month, $79/year, and $14.99/month for Family Sharing after a 7-day free trial.
Founder bio — Joshua Frost
Joshua Frost is the founder of Deer Track Design LLC. Based in Bloomington, Illinois, he builds consumer software at the intersection of fitness, outdoors, and Apple's hardware platform. RuckMode is his direct answer to the Fenix 8 he bought in early 2026 and returned three weeks later, and RuckMode is the field-training lane for loaded rucks, Murph prep, and branch-style PT templates without implying official military affiliation.
Press contact
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ruckmode.app
- X: @RuckModeApp